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Tips For Parents
Bullet Inspect all treats before your kids begin consuming.
Bullet Beware of unwrapped candies and homemade treats from strangers.
Bullet While tampering is rare, inspect candy wrappings carefully. Look for holes or opened seals and throw out anything suspicious. (Many fire and police departments will inspect and/or even X-ray your children's treats.)
Bullet Make your kids some nonalcoholic Jack-O-Lantern Punch
Bullet Some SAFER, HEALTHIER alternatives to candy include nonfood treats such as colorful pencils, party favors, stickers, small coloring books, rub-on tattoos, and coins. Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
Bullet Make sure that costumes do not impede vision or movement.
Bullet Always have an adult or older child accompany trick-or-treaters. (Older children should carry an emergency contact number and change for a pay phone.)
Bullet Establish a specific route and estimated time to return home before the children begin their rounds.
Bullet Don't be afraid to change your plans.

Encourage Positive Activities as Alternatives (or in addition) to Trick-or-Treating
  • Host a Halloween party
  • Organize a costume parade
  • Carve a pumpkin
  • Make a scarecrow
  • Make a haunted house for the neighborhood children
  • Help your children make their own Halloween make-up
  • Watch scary movies while drinking cider
  • Bake pumpkin cookies with your kids

Suggested Halloween Reading

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow -- W. Irving
The Thirteen Days of Halloween! -- Carol Green
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown -- C. Schulz
The Raven -- Edgar Allen Poe
Squels and Squiggles and Ghostly Giggles -- Ann McGovern
Go Away Big Green Monster --Ed Emberley
Humbug Witch -- Lorna Balian
Heckedy Peg -- Audrey Wood
Big Pumpkin -- Erica Silverman
A Dark, Dark Tale -- Ruth Brown
Funnybones -- Janet Ahlberg
The Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything -- Linda Williams
Bunnicula -- James Howe


Other Halloween Resources
Safety Tips for Halloween Trick-or-treaters

Children's Safety Zone: Halloween Safety Tips

Los Angeles Fire Department Halloween Safety Tips

Parentsmart



Have a Safe & Happy Halloween!
Halloween Safety Homepage
Halloween Homepage
 



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